Prime ideals in nilpotent Iwasawa algebras. (Q1930888)

The nice paper under review can be viewed a continuation of the author's previous work [see \textit{K. Ardakov} and \textit{K. A. Brown}, Doc. Math., J. DMV Extra Vol., 7-33 (2006; Zbl 1125.16011); \textit{K. Ardakov, F. Wei} and \textit{J. J. Zhang}, Adv. Math. 218, No. 3, 865-901 (2008; Zbl 1153.16015) and J. Algebra 320, No. 1, 259-275 (2008; Zbl 1162.16013); \textit{K. Ardakov} and \textit{W. J. Wadsley}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 213, No. 9, 1852-1864 (2009; Zbl 1171.16014)]. Let \(G\) be a compact \(p\)-adic analytic group and let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(p\). The completed group algebra \(kG\) of \(G\) with coefficients in \(k\), also known as an Iwasawa algebra, is an interesting example of a non-commutative Noetherian complete semilocal ring with good homological properties. A long-running project aims to understand the prime spectrum \(\text{Spec}(kG)\) of \(kG\), based on the list of open questions in Sect. 6 of the survey paper [op. cit., Zbl 1125.16011]. Progress so far has been rather limited: the strongest known result to date, Theorem 4.8 in [loc. cit., Zbl 1171.16014] asserts that (under mild restrictions on the prime \(p\)) when the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) of \(G\) is split semisimple, the homological height of a non-zero prime ideal in \(kG\) is bounded below by an integer \(u\) depending only on \(\mathfrak g\); for example if \(\mathfrak g=\mathfrak{sl}_n(\mathbb Q_p)\) then \(u=2n-2\). Let \(G\) be a nilpotent complete \(p\)-valued group of finite rank and let \(k\) be a field of characteristic \(p\). The author proves that every faithful prime ideal of the Iwasawa algebra \(kG\) is controlled by the centre of \(G\), and uses this to show that the prime spectrum of \(kG\) is a disjoint union of commutative strata. He also shows that every prime ideal of \(kG\) is completely prime. The key ingredient in the proof is the construction of a non-commutative valuation on certain filtered simple Artinian rings. This wonderful paper is strongly recommended reading for all who are interesting in non-commutative Iwasawa algebras.